Furniture



Feb. 17, 1942. A BANK 2,273,428

FURNITURE Filed May 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 155 M. BANK 'ITORNEY Feb. 17, 1942.

A. M. BANK 4 FURNITURE Filed May 3; 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4185,97 M. BANK BY fihkm ATTORNEY A. M. BANK Feb. 17, 1942.

FURNITURE Fil ed May 3, 19s9 3 Sheets-Sheetfi iNVENTOR flLB/SQT M BANK f BY I v flown?! Patented F eb. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE FURNITURE Albert M. Bank, Jersey City, N. J assignor to Sylvia Bank, Jersey City, N. J.

Application May 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,437

Claims. r (Cl. 155-164) This invention relates to furniture. It is particularly directed to a chair having a reclining back, and provided with mechanism for holding the back of the chair in any angular position to which it is pushed back by the person sitting in I the chair, while the person reclines, and for returning the chair back to upright position, when the person in the chair sits upright again removing all pressure from the chair back.

An object of this invention is to provide in a chair of the character described, a frame and a back frame, and highly improved mechanism of the character described, pivotally interconnecting the back frame to the frame, permitting a quick and easy assembly of the mechanism with frame and back frame, whereby to reduce the cost of construction and the time necessary to make the assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and compact chair of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, smooth and positive in operation, and yet practical, comfortable and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and inpart hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described,

dicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

and of which the scope of application will be in- Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewof a chair emtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the seat frame; Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of the back frame with part of the improved mechanism attached thereto;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting plate which'is attached to the seat frame;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View of a chair having an open arm, and illustrating a modified mechanism, embodying the invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line iii-40 of Fig. 8.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I0 designates a chair embodying the invention, here shown in the form of an upholstered chair, and comprising a base portion II and a back portion l2 hinged thereto, in the manner hereinafter to be explained.

The back portion I2 is connected to the base portion II on opposite sides thereof, by a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed mechanisms l4, which hinge the back portion to the base portion and permit the back portion to be swung back about its hinge to inclined position, said mechanisms also serving to hold the back portion in any portion to which it is pushed when the person sitting on the chair pushes backward to reclining position; and also serves to gradually move the back portion to upright position when the person sitting on the chair again sits upright in the chair, relieving pressure from the back portion.

Figs. 1 to 8 disclose a construction in which the chair has hollow covered upholstered arms bers 20, the lower ends whereof may serve as front legs for the chair. The uprights 20 are interconnected by a front member 2|, and the rear ends of the side walls l8 are interconnected by a transverse member 22. The upper ends of the uprights 20 may be interconnected to the upper ends of the rear portions of the side walls 18 by top flat boards 24. The side walls l8 are formed with forwardly and upwardly inclined notches or cut-away portions 25, extending to the rear edges thereof, for the purpose herein- Attached to the outer surface of each wall I8, adjacent the rear and lower edges thereof, is a channel shaped bracket 36 having a wall 31 disposed parallel to and spaced from said outer surface, and formed with a plurality of notches 38 in its lower edge.

Interconnecting each bracket 35 with the under edge of the side wall I8, is an angle shaped member or bracket 45, having a vertical wall 4! riveted to the wall 31, as at 42, and a horizontal wall 43 screwed, as at 44, to the under edge of wall 18. The wall 43 is formed with a through opening 44a, located between the wall 37 of the bracket 36 and the outer surface of the frame wall [8. The bracket 35 and member 45 on each side of the chair frame, form part of the mechanisms l4. The mechanisms i4 being similar and symmetrically disposed, only one of said mechanisms will be described in detail.

Each mechanism l4 further comprises a flat, vertical metal plate 45 attached to the outer surface of each side frame wall It, in position to overlie the notch or cut-away portion 25. For this purpose, each plate is formed with a pair of openings 46 adjacent its upper end, and an opening 41 adjacent its lower end to receive screws 46a and 41a respectively, screwed into the frame wall 18.

The plate 45 is formed with a downwardly and rearwardly curved slot 43 registering with the notch or cut-away portion 25 in the frame wall [8. Each plate 45 is further formed with a recessed portion 50, having a central opening 53 receiving a horizontal, outwardly projecting pivot pin or stud 52, riveted to the plate.

Rotatably mounted on each pin 52, is an annular shive or pulley 53. Each pulley 53 comprises a pair of circular metal plates 54 having a quarter circular peripheral rim 55. The plates 54 are back to back, and the rims 55 together form a channel of semi-circular cross-section. The plates 54 are fixed together by rivets 57, as will appear hereinafter.

The recessed portion 55- accommodates the riveted head 52a of the pivot pin 52. Fixed to the outer surface of pulley 53 by rivets 5?, is a spacer plate 63, and one end of an elongated radial arm 64 extending forwardly beyond the pulley. The arm 64 is disposed below the top member 24 and projects into the arm- E5 of the chair. The outer end of the arm 64 is formed with a plurality of spaced openings 56. Interconnecting the outer end of the arm 54 with the bracket 36, is a coil tension spring 10. One end of the spring 15 may engage within one of the openings 55, and the other end within one of the notches 3B. The pull on the back of the chair may thus be regulated.

Fixed to the inner side of each pulley 53 is a bracket 12 having a vertical, downwardly extending arm 13- contacting the inner surface of the pulley 53 and riveted thereto by rivets 13a, and a horizontal arm 14 passingthrough the slot 48 and notch 25, and a vertical upwardly extending arm 15- received within the recess 34 in the side wall 3| of the back frame 35'. The portion 15 of each bracket 12 is attached to the side wall 31 of the back frame by bolts 15.

It will now be understood that as the back portion l2 of the chair is'pushed back, the arms 54 will be raised upwardly to tension the springs 70.

To hold the chair back in any position to which it is moved while the person inthe chair reclines, each plate 45 is provided with an outwardly extending stud 80 adjacent its lower end. Connected to each stud 85', is one end of a belt 8i passing around the channel 55 of the pulley Attached to the other end of the belt BI is a coil tension spring 84, connected by an adjustable screw connection to the angle shaped member 40. Each screw 85 passes through the opening 44a in the wall 43 of the angle shaped member 40; and a wing nut 86 on the screw 85 serves to adjust the tension of the spring 84.

The belt 8| may comprise a leather piece 95 of substantially circular cross-section, receiving a tubular member 9| at one end, formed with a plurality of annular grooved portions 93 pressed into the leather member 90 to prevent the tubular member from sliding off. Member 9! has an apertured ear 92 to receive one end of the spring 84. At the other end of the leather piece 90 is a tubular member 96, likewise formed with annular grooved portions pressed into the leather. Member 95 has an apertured ear 9'! to receive the stud 80.

It will now be understood that when the chair back is pushed rearwardly, as the person sitting in the chair reclines, the springs 10 are tensionecl. The person sitting in the chair pushes back to the reclining position he wishes to assume. In such position, a slight pressure on the chair back due to weight of the persons back, together with the friction of the belts on the pulleys, serve to hold the chair back rearwardly inclined. The pull on the springs 10 is somewhat greater than the frictional hold of the belts on the pulleys. When the person sits upright and all pressure is removed from the chair back, the springs 15 will overcome the friction of the belts on the pulleys to move the chair back to upright position.

Attached to the rear edges I8a of the side walls [8 are vertical pieces of wood I81) closing the rear ends of the slots 25. The slots 48 in the plates limit the angular movement of the chair back. It will be noted that the chair back pivots about the pivot pins or studs 52.

The pulleys 53 may be first fixed to the members 63 and 64 by the rivets 51 and to members 12 by rivets 13a. The pins or studs 52 are riveted to the plates 45, and the pulleys with their members 12, 63 and 64 mounted on the pivot pins, and

washers 64a placed on the pivot pins, and the cotter pins 6417 applied. The upper arms 15 of member 12 may then be inserted into the grooves 34 of the side walls 3| of the back frame and fixed thereto by bolts 16. The brackets 36, 40 are attached to the walls I8 of the seat frame.

The back frame together with mechanisms l4 may then be fitted into place on the seat frame, by passing the portions 14 of members 12 through the slots 25, so that the walls I8 are located between the plates 45 and the arms 15 of members 72. The plates 45 are then attached by screws 46a, 41a. to the side walls l8, and this attachment will automatically pivotally mount the back portion to the base frame about the pins 52. The spring 70 may then be applied as shown in the drawings, and the friction belt 8! also applied.

It will thus be seen that the chair back frame may be quickly and easily assembled with mechanisms l4 and the seat frame.

With an open arm chair or a chair having no side arms, there would be no space to accommodate the forwardly projecting portions of the arms 64.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there is illustrated a mechanism Ma, interconnecting the chair back to the chair seat for pivotal movement to various inclined positions, and serving to retract the portions I I.

I'c hair back to upright position, andalso to hold the chair back in any position to which it is pushed back, but so arranged that the same may be used With'open arm chairs, said mechanisms being compact and located at the rear portion of the chair arms.

Each mechanism I la comprises brackets 36,

40 similar to the brackets 36, 40 of Figs..1,

2 and 4. Attached to each side wall I8 of the chair frame is a plate 45a, to which is fixed a horizontal pivot pin or stud 52a. Rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 52a is a shive or pulley 53a, to the outer side of which there is fixed by rivets 51a, a spacing plate 63a and a diametric of lever I00, is a coil compression spring I05. In-

terconnecting the bracket 36 with one of the openings I02 in the other arm'of the lever I00, is a coil compression spring I06.

There is also attached to the shive 53a, one arm I3 of member I2 which passes through the slot in the plate and the slot 25 in the frame wall, and is fixed to the back frame of the chair in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings. As the chair back is pushed rearwardly about the pivot pins 52a, the

springs I05 and I06 become tensioned together.

By supplying two springs and a lever with two arms, the length of the lever is shortened, so as not to project forwardly, as does the lever arm 64 of Fig. 3. The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is therefore compact and may be used with chairs having open arms or no arms at all.

Furthermore, by bringing the springs closer to the center of the pulley, thelength of stretch in the springs for a given angular movement of the chair back is reduced, thereby permitting the'use of less expensive springs.

Means is further provided to reduce the amount of friction on the pulley during the first part of the movement of the chair back rearwardly from upright position (or the last part of the angular movement of the chair back as it approaches upright position). To this end, the periphery of the shive may be cut-away, as at I I0, so that a portion of the belt which normally would be in contact with the channel portion of the pulley is not in contact therewith, thereby reducing the angular extent of the pulley which is in contact with the belt. The cut-away portoin H0 is so located that as the chair back hegins to move rearwardly from upright position, the angular extent of contact between the belt and the pulley increases, until the cut-out portion H0 is wholly between the lower ends of the belt, after which the angle of contact remains uniform. The angular extent of the cut-out portion H0 is the desired angle of reduced friction, and the cut-out is so located that the angle of contact between the belt and the pulley increases as the chair back starts moving rearwardly.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is Well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

I "As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1.- A piece of furniture comprising a base frame having a pair of side vertical walls formed with aligned cut-outs, and a back frame having a pair'of side vertical walls, a pair of plates fixed to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the base frame and formed with curved slots registering'with said cut-outs, a pulley pivoted on each plate, a bracket attached to each pulley and having a portion passing through the curved slot of each plate and the cut-out registering therewith, said brackets having upwardly extending'arms attached to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the back frame, friction means engaging each pulley, and resilient means interconnecting each pulley with said base frame.

2. A chaircomprising a base frame having vertical side walls, and a back frame having vertical side walls received between the side walls of the base frame, the side walls of the base 'frame being formed with notches extending to the rear edges thereof, plates fixed to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the base frame and having slots registering with the notches in the side walls, said plates being formed with horizontal outwardly aligned studs, pulleys rotatably mounted on said studs, a member fixed to each pulley and extending radially therefrom and connected to the base frame by a coil tension spring, brackets fixed to said pulleys and having portions passing through the registering slots and notches, said brackets having upwardly ex- 1 tending arms fixed to side walls of the back frame, a belt about the periphery of each pulley,

'means' forfixing one end of each belt to said plate, and a yielding connection between the other end of each belt and the base frame.

3. A chair comprising a base frame having upwardly extending side walls, a back frame having side walls, the lower end whereof is received between said side walls of the base frame, plates fixed to the side walls of the base frame and provided with aligned, horizontal studs,

members rotatably mounted on said studs, a spring means connecting each member to the base frame, brackets fixed to said members having upwardly extending arms, friction means engaging said rotatably mounted members, the side walls of said back frame having recesses in the outer surfaces thereof, said arms of said brackets being received in said recesses, means to fix said arms to the side walls of said back frame, and the side walls of said base frame having notches, said brackets passing through 7 nected to the base frame.

'5. A chair comprising a base frame having side walls formed with cut-away portions, plates vfixed to the outer sides of said side walls and .having slots registering with said cut-away portions, pulleys rotatably mounted on said plates, at back frame, brackets fixed to said pulleys and passing through the registering slots and cut-out portions and fixed to said back frame, spring means interconnecting said pulleys to said base frame, and a friction belt on each pulley connected to the base frame, each pulley having a cut-away portion in its periphery.

6. In a chair comprising a base frame and a back frame, a pulley rotatably mounted on the base frame about a horizontal axis parallel to the front of the base frame, a diametric member fixed to said pulley and having arms extending in opposite directions, a coil tension spring interconnecting one arm with a portion of the base frame below the pulley, and a coil tension spring interconnecting the other arm with a portion of the base frame above the pulley, means for fixing said pulley to the back frame, a belt contacting a portion of the periphery of said pulley, and means for connecting the opposite ends of said belt to said base frame, a portion of the periphery of the pulley being cutaway, whereby to vary the angle of contact between the belt and the pulley, as the back frame is swung back to reclining position.

'7. A chair comprising a base frame having upwardly extending side walls, a back frame, the lower end whereof is received between said side walls, plates fixed to the side walls of said base frame and provided with aligned, horizontal studs, members rotatably mounted on said studs, spring means connecting each member to said base frame, means to fix said rotatably mounted members to the back frame, and frictions means engaging said rotatably mounted members, said side walls having cut-away portions, said plates having slots registering therewith and said fixing means passing through said cut-away portions and slots.

frame, and a friction belt on each pulley con- 8. A chair comprising a base frame having vertical side walls, and a back frame having vertical side walls received between the side walls of the base frame, plates fixed to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the base frame, said plates being formed with studs, pulleys rotatably mounted on the studs, an arm fixed to each pulley and extending radially therefrom, a coil tension spring interconnecting each arm with the base frame, brackets fixed to the pulleys and having portions passing through the planes of said plates and the side walls of the base frame, said brackets having portions fixed to the side walls of the back frame, a belt about the periphery of each pulley, means for fixing one end of each belt to said plate, and a yielding connection between the other end of each belt and the base frame.

9. A chair comprising a base frame and a back frame, a pair of plates fixed to the base frame and provided with aligned studs, mem bers rotatably mounted on said studs, spring means connecting each rotatably mounted member at a point thereon spaced from the axis of the studs, with the base frame, brackets fixed to said members and having portions passing through the planes of said plates, and portions fixed to the back frame, and friction means engaging said rotatably mounted members to retard rotation thereof.

10. A chair comprising a base frame and a back frame, a pair of plates fixed to opposite sides of the base frame, said plates being formed with aligned outwardly extending studs, pulleys rotatably mounted on said studs, an arm fixed to each pulley and extending therefrom, a spring interconnecting each arm with the base frame, friction means engaging said pulleys to retard rotation thereof, and brackets attached to said pulleys and having portions extending through the planes of said plates, and arms fixed to opposite sides of the back frame.

ALBERT M. BANK. 

